dagen: we hope for that, senator, but since the election, it's as if the differences between the two sides have hardened even more, and even if they do something small to prevent serious harm to the economy, what does that even say about the potential for tax reform in the coming year? what's that say about the potential to really try and write our nation financially? that will not get done. i mean, what it going to take to get them to act responsibly in the best interest of the country? >> well, you know, the lubrication for democracy is for people who feel differently to come together and reach compromise. i mean, that's always been the way things worked, and i served in congress for 30 years with people who, at the end of the day, even though they felt differently and strongly about things r they wanted to come together understanding they needed to compromise. you know, you mentioned, for example, tax reform. we need tax reform in the country, and i was in the 1986 ways and means committee, and reagan was president, democratic congress, it was hard to do, a long time, but we did i